Topic: Zero Pain Philosophy

Zero Pain Philosophy, the initiative set up by RCVS Analgesia and Anaesthesia Specialists Matt Gurney and Carl Bradbrook to improve pain management in veterinary patients, is asking vet nurses to complete its second annual Big Pain Survey.

The Big Pain Survey is designed to identifying opportunities to help veterinary professionals improve their patient pain management and take a zero tolerance approach to pain in their patients.

Last year's survey revealed that only 18% of veterinary professionals use pain scoring for chronic pain, 78% of practices don't offer pain clinics, only 23% of vets always prescribe analgesia for acute otitis externa, 70% of vets don't do epidural anaesthesia at their practice, and most veterinary professionals agreed that clients' understanding of pain is low. 

The organisers say that last year's survey results also suggest that awareness around educational information such as the WSAVA pain management guidelines needs further promotion, particularly when it comes to the use of local anaesthesia.

For example, 39% of practices don’t use local anaesthesia during bitch spays.

Lack of experience was commonly cited as the reason that local anaesthetic was not used for a variety of procedures that would benefit from it, including dental extractions.

For those vets that do use local anaesthesia more regularly, many said they feel they still need further education about it.

Survey: https://forms.gle/ogQmQsCKupW83u7FA